U.S. patent number 8,593,161 [Application Number 12/089,669] was granted by the patent office on 2013-11-26 for contact detection apparatus and pinch prevention apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Shiroki Kogyo Co., Ltd., Tachibana Eletech Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Yoshihiro Fujimura, Kazushi Hirose, Kenji Kato, Masayuki Kato, Takao Koba, Hiroki Nishida, Naoki Sumiya, Minoru Tanaka. Invention is credited to Yoshihiro Fujimura, Kazushi Hirose, Kenji Kato, Masayuki Kato, Takao Koba, Hiroki Nishida, Naoki Sumiya, Minoru Tanaka.
United States Patent |
8,593,161 |
Kato , et al. |
November 26, 2013 |
Contact detection apparatus and pinch prevention apparatus
Abstract
A contact detection apparatus that allows faster detection and a
pinch prevention apparatus equipped with such a detection apparatus
are provided. The contact detection apparatus includes a first
electrode (430) made of a flexible conductive material and
extending throughout a contact detection range, a second electrode
(440) apart from the first electrode and extending on the back side
of the first electrode, and detection means for detecting contact
of an object with the first electrode based on the capacitance of
the first electrode. The first electrode is made of a conductive
resin containing an embedded conductor.
Inventors: |
Kato; Masayuki (Kanagawa,
JP), Hirose; Kazushi (Kanagawa, JP),
Fujimura; Yoshihiro (Osaka, JP), Tanaka; Minoru
(Osaka, JP), Koba; Takao (Osaka, JP),
Nishida; Hiroki (Osaka, JP), Sumiya; Naoki
(Aichi, JP), Kato; Kenji (Aichi, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kato; Masayuki
Hirose; Kazushi
Fujimura; Yoshihiro
Tanaka; Minoru
Koba; Takao
Nishida; Hiroki
Sumiya; Naoki
Kato; Kenji |
Kanagawa
Kanagawa
Osaka
Osaka
Osaka
Osaka
Aichi
Aichi |
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Shiroki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
(Kanagawa, JP)
Tachibana Eletech Co., Ltd. (Osaka, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
37942814 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/089,669 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2006 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 11, 2006 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2006/320332 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
December 31, 2008 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2007/043584 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
April 19, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20090218978 A1 |
Sep 3, 2009 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
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Oct 13, 2005 [JP] |
|
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2005-298853 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
324/661; 324/326;
73/780; 324/658; 324/679; 324/663; 324/686 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J
1/17 (20130101); E05F 15/46 (20150115); B60J
10/74 (20160201); E05Y 2900/538 (20130101); E05Y
2900/55 (20130101); H01H 3/142 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G01R
27/26 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;324/661 ;73/780 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
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2001-243847 |
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Sep 2001 |
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JP |
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2002-368597 |
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Dec 2002 |
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JP |
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2005-227244 |
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Aug 2005 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Vazquez; Arleen M
Assistant Examiner: Le; Son
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow,
Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A contact detection apparatus comprising: a door body; a first
electrode made of a flexible conductive material and extending
throughout a contact detection range; a second electrode apart from
the first electrode and extending on a back side of the first
electrode, the second electrode being directly electrically
connected to the door body; a joint member made of an insulating
material and connecting the first electrode and the second
electrode to form a tubular structure with the second electrode
being inside the tubular structure; and a detector that detects
direct contact of an object with the first electrode based on a
capacitance of the first electrode; wherein: the first electrode
comprises a projection inwardly extending from the interior of the
first electrode toward the second electrode and an embedded
conductor extending along a length of the first electrode, the
extending projection being disposed independently from the embedded
conductor; and the first electrode is exposed to direct exterior
contact in both a first direction opposite the second electrode and
a second direction crossing the first direction, the first
electrode being in direct physical contact with the second
electrode when pushed in the first direction and the projection of
the first electrode being in direct physical contact with the
second electrode when pushed in the second direction.
2. The contact detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the second electrode is made of a conductive resin and does not
contain an embedded conductor.
3. The contact detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,
as viewed from a cross section of the tubular structure, the first
electrode includes two end portions connected to the joint member
and the embedded conductor is disposed in one of the end
portions.
4. A contact detection apparatus comprising: a first electrode made
of a flexible conductive material with a partially incomplete
circular cross section and extending throughout a contact detection
range, the first electrode comprising a projection inwardly
extending from the interior of the first electrode toward the
second electrode and an embedded conductor extending along a length
of the first electrode, the extending projection being disposed
independently from the embedded conductor; a second electrode apart
from the first electrode and extending on a back side of the first
electrode in the vicinity of the incomplete circular cross section
of the first electrode; a joint member made of an insulating
material positioned to close the incomplete circular cross section
of the first electrode and thereby connecting the first electrode
and the second electrode to form a tubular structure with the
second electrode being inside the tubular structure; and a detector
that detects direct contact of an object with the first electrode
based on a capacitance change of the first electrode, wherein the
first electrode is exposed to direct exterior contact in both a
first direction opposite the second electrode and a second
direction crossing the first direction, the first electrode being
in direct physical contact with the second electrode when pushed in
the first direction and the projection of the first electrode being
in direct physical contact with between the first and second
electrode when pushed in the second direction.
5. The contact detection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
the end portions have a width larger than a width at the middle
portion between the end portions of the first electrode.
6. The contact detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a
length of the extending projection is greater than a diameter of
the embedded conductor.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a contact detection apparatus and
a pinch prevention apparatus, particularly to an apparatus that
detects contact with an object and a pinch prevention apparatus
that detects that two members, at least one of which is driven by a
driver, pinch a foreign object and controls the driver to prevent
the pinch.
BACKGROUND ART
A power window of a vehicle or the like is configured in such a way
that a window regulator moves a pane back and forth between the
positions where the window frame is open and closed. The window
regulator is controlled to prevent the body or the like of a driver
or a passenger from being pinched. As an example of such control, a
detector provided in the vicinity of the window frame is used to
prevent pinch based on a detection signal from the detector.
The detector includes an elastically flexible tube in which a pair
of parallel electrodes are disposed in such a way they face each
other with a gap therebetween. The detector detects pinch when the
tube is crushed to cause a short circuit between the electrodes
(see JP-A-61-45518, for example) or decrease in the distance
between the electrodes and hence increase in capacitance (see
JP-A-2000-329506, for example). Patent Document 1: JP-A-61-45518
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2000-329506
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems that the Invention is to Solve
The detector does not produce a detection signal until the tube is
sufficiently crushed. There is therefore a delay in initiating the
pinch prevention control after pinch occurs, so that the body or
the like is kept severely pinched during the delay period.
An object of the invention is to provide a contact detection
apparatus that allows faster detection. Another object of the
invention is to provide a pinch prevention apparatus equipped with
such a detection apparatus.
Means for Solving the Problems
A preferred embodiment of a contact detection apparatus is
disclosed, characterized in that the apparatus includes a first
electrode made of a flexible conductive material and extending
throughout a contact detection range, a second electrode apart from
the first electrode and extending on the back side of the first
electrode, and detection means for detecting contact of an object
with the first electrode based on the capacitance of the first
electrode.
The first electrode may be made of a conductive resin containing an
embedded conductor.
The embedded conductor may be located at the base of the first
electrode.
The embedded conductor may be an embedded metal.
The detection means may detect the contact when the capacitance of
the first electrode becomes greater than a predetermined threshold
value.
The second electrode may have a capacitance greater than the
threshold value.
The detection means may also detect the contact when the
capacitance of the first electrode becomes smaller than another
threshold value that is smaller than the threshold value.
The second electrode may be a grounded electrode.
The second electrode is may be made of a conductive material, and
the conductive material may be a metal.
The conductive material may be a conductive rubber.
The conductive material may be a conductive resin.
The conductive resin may contain an embedded conductor.
The embedded conductor may be an embedded metal.
The first and second electrodes may be integrally formed with an
insulating resin for a joint purpose by using extrusion
molding.
In one preferred embodiment, a pinch prevention apparatus is
provided including a detection apparatus that detects that two
members, at least one of which is driven by a driver, pinch a
foreign object and a control apparatus that controls the driver to
prevent the pinch based on a pinch detection signal from the
detection apparatus, the pinch prevention apparatus characterized
in that the detection apparatus is an contact detection apparatus
described above.
Advantage of the Invention
In the inventions according to claims 1 or 16, since the contact
detection apparatus includes the first electrode made of a flexible
conductive material and extending throughout a contact detection
range, the second electrode apart from the first electrode and
extending on the back side of the first electrode, and the
detection means for detecting contact of an object with the first
electrode based on the capacitance of the first electrode, a
contact detection apparatus that allows faster detection and a
pinch prevention apparatus equipped with such a detection apparatus
are achieved.
When the first electrode is made of a conductive resin containing
an embedded conductor, the isoelectric state of the first electrode
can be enhanced.
When the embedded conductor is located at the base of the first
electrode, the load exerted by the first electrode when it is
deformed is small.
When the embedded conductor is an embedded metal, isoelectricity
can be enhanced.
When the detection means detects the contact when the capacitance
of the first electrode becomes greater than a predetermined
threshold value, contact with the human body is easily
detected.
When the second electrode has a capacitance greater than the
threshold value, contact with an object having a low capacitance
can be detected.
When the detection means also detects the contact with an object
having a low capacitance when the capacitance of the first
electrode becomes smaller than another threshold value that is
smaller than the threshold value.
When the second electrode is a grounded electrode, the capacitance
can be reduced when the second electrode comes into contact
therewith.
When the second electrode is made of a conductive material, the
second electrode is reliably grounded.
When the conductive material is a metal, isoelectricity can easily
be achieved.
When the conductive material is a conductive rubber, the formation
is easily carried out.
When the conductive material is a conductive resin, the formation
is easily carried out.
When the conductive resin contains an embedded conductor,
isoelectricity can easily be achieved.
When the embedded conductor is an embedded metal, isoelectricity
can easily be achieved.
When the first and second electrodes are integrally formed with an
insulating resin for a joint purpose by using extrusion molding,
the integrated structure is easily handled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power window using a contact
detection apparatus and a pinch prevention apparatus that are
examples of the best mode for carrying out the invention.
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the power window using the
contact detection apparatus and the pinch prevention apparatus that
are examples of the best mode for carrying out the invention.
FIG. 3 shows how a sensor is attached to a window.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which the human body is pinched.
FIG. 5 shows a state in which the human body is pinched.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 11 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 12 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 13 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 14 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 15 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a pinch prevention operation.
FIG. 17 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
FIG. 18 shows a state in which the human body is pinched.
FIG. 19 shows an example of the configuration of the sensor.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS
100 window 102 pane 104 window frame 104a upper frame 104b rear
frame 104c front frame 110 door body 140 door sash 142 door guard
144 weatherstrip 200 window regulator 202 lifting/lowering motor
204 lifting/lowering mechanism 300 safety device 304 drive circuit
306 pulse generator 308 counter 310 switch 320 sensor 330 contact
detector 430 outer electrode 432 embedded metal 440 inner electrode
442 embedded metal 450 joint member 452 coating
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described
below in detail with reference to the drawings. The invention is
not limited to the best mode for carrying out the invention. FIG. 1
is a block diagram showing an example of a power window. As shown
in FIG. 1, the power window includes a window 100, a window
regulator 200, and a safety device 300.
The window 100 includes a pane 102. The window regulator 200
includes a lifting/lowering motor 202 and a lifting/lowering
mechanism 204. The lifting/lowering motor 202 drives the
lifting/lowering mechanism 204 to lift and lower the pane 102. The
safety device 300 manages the safety of the lifting/lowering
operation of the pane 102 performed by the window regulator
200.
The safety device 300 is an example of the best mode for carrying
out the invention. The configuration of the safety device 300 shows
an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention
concerning the pinch prevention apparatus.
The safety device 300 includes a CPU 302. The CPU 302 is the heart
of the safety device 300 and performs the safety management of the
window regulator 200 based on a predetermined program. The CPU 302
uses a drive circuit 304 to control the lifting/lowering motor 202.
The amount of rotation of the lifting/lowering motor 202 is fed
back to the CPU 302 via a pulse generator 306 and a counter 308.
The CPU 302 recognizes the position of the pane based on the count
obtained in the counter 308.
A vehicle having a plurality of power windows includes a plurality
of sets of the window 100 and the window regulator 200, and a
plurality of sets of the pulse generator 306, the counter 308, a
sensor 320, and a contact detector 330 are provided accordingly.
FIG. 1 shows only one of the plurality of sets. The CPU 302 manages
the safety of the lifting/lowering operation of the pane 102 for
each set of the window and the window regulator.
The CPU 302 receives a pane lifting/lowering command via a switch
310. The switch 310 is operated by a user. The switch 310 includes
a plurality of switches corresponding to the plurality of windows.
These switches are collectively provided in an area close to the
driver's seat, so that any of the plurality of windows can be
opened and closed from the driver's seat.
The sensor 320 is provided in the window 100. The output signal
from the sensor 320 is inputted to the contact detector 330. The
contact detector 330 judges whether or not contact with an object
occurs based on the output signal from the sensor 320 and inputs a
judgment signal to the CPU 302. The CPU 302 controls the window
regulator 200 based on the input signal from the contact detector
330.
The portion formed of the sensor 320 and the contact detector 330
is an example of the best mode for carrying out the invention. The
configuration of this portion shows an example of the best mode for
carrying out the invention concerning the contact detection
apparatus. The contact detector 330 is an example of the detection
means in the invention.
FIG. 2 shows an example of a vehicle door equipped with such a
power window. Although a rear door of a sedan is shown herein by
way of example, each of the other doors basically has similar
configuration. In the vehicle door, the upper portion of a door
body 110 is the window 100. The window 100 has a structure in which
the pane 102, which is lifted out of and lowered into the door body
110, closes and opens the opening of a window frame 104. The window
regulator 200, which lifts and lowers the pane 102, and the safety
device 300 of the window regulator 200 are disposed in the door
body 110.
The window frame 104 includes an upper frame 104a, a rear frame
104b, and a front frame 104c. The upper frame 104a is roughly
horizontal. The rear frame 104b is inclined roughly rearward and
downward. The front frame 104c is roughly vertical. The sensor 302
is disposed along the upper frame 104a and the rear frame 104b.
FIG. 3 shows how the sensor 320 is attached to the window 100. FIG.
3 corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A
shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor 320 is disposed on
the interior side of a door sash 140 and oriented downward. A door
guard 142 is provided on the exterior side of the door sash 140. A
weatherstrip 144 is provided at the portion that receives the upper
end of the pane 102.
The sensor 320 includes an outer electrode 430 and an inner
electrode 440 integrally formed via a joint member 450
therebetween. The outer electrode 430 is an example of the first
electrode in the invention. The inner electrode 440 is an example
of the second electrode in the invention. The joint member 450 is,
for example, made of insulating resin, such as thermoplastic olefin
elastomer (TPO). The sensor 320 is attached to the door sash 140 by
using the U-shaped portion of the joint member 450.
The outer electrode 430 and the joint member 450 form a tubular
structure, and the inner electrode 440 is supported by the joint
member 450 at the upper center of the inner wall of the tubular
structure. The inner electrode 440 is as long as the external
electrode 430. In this text, the outer-wall side of the tubular
structure is also referred to as the front side, and the inner-wall
side is also referred to as the back side. The inner electrode 440
is therefore located on the back side of the outer electrode.
The outer electrode 430 is made of a flexible conductive material.
Examples of such a material are conductive rubber and conductive
resin. An example of conductive resin is carbon-containing TPO.
The outer electrode 430 includes an embedded metal 432 in its base,
that is, in the vicinity of the portion where the outer electrode
430 is connected to the joint member 450. The embedded metal 432 is
a wire made of stainless steel or copper extending entirely along
the outer electrode 430. Having the embedded metal 432, the outer
electrode 430 has the same potential throughout its length. The
embedded metal 432 may be replaced with a conductor other than a
metal. Examples of such a conductor may be conductive resin and
conductive rubber with particularly enhanced conductivity.
The outer electrode 430 is connected to the contact detector 330
through a signal line. The contact detector 330 detects whether or
not the outer electrode 430 comes into contact with the human body
based on the capacitance of the outer electrode 430. The detection
whether or not there is contact is carried out with reference to a
predetermined threshold value.
The inner electrode 440 is also made of a conductive material. An
example of such a material is conductive resin. The inner electrode
440 includes an embedded metal 442. The embedded metal 442 is a
wire made of stainless steel or copper extending entirely along the
outer electrode 440. The embedded metal 442 may be replaced with a
conductor other than a metal. Examples of such a conductor may be
conductive resin and conductive rubber with particularly enhanced
conductivity.
Having the embedded metal 442, the inner electrode 440 has the same
potential throughout its length. The embedded metal 442 can be
omitted. The inner electrode 440 is connected to the door sash 140.
The inner electrode 440 may be connected to the ground of the
electric system that forms the safety device 300. In this case, the
inner electrode 440 becomes a ground electrode.
The thus configured sensor 320 is integrally molded, for example,
by using extrusion molding. In this way, the sensor 320 formed of
the outer electrode 430, the inner electrode 440, and the joint
member 450 can be easily manufactured.
FIG. 4 shows the state in which the human body (the hand, for
example) is pinched. As shown in FIG. 4, when the hand is pinched
between the pane 102 and the sensor 320, the capacitance of the
human body increases the capacitance of the outer electrode
430.
The contact detector 330 detects the pinching based on the increase
in capacitance. A pinch detection signal is inputted to the CPU
302. The CPU 302 controls the drive circuit 304 to lower the pane
102 based on the pinch detection signal.
The pinch prevention operation is initiated as soon as the human
body comes into contact with the sensor 320 without any delay.
Further, since the outer electrode 430 of the sensor 320 is
flexible, no large force is exerted on the pinched human body.
When an object having a low capacitance is pinched, the capacitance
of the outer electrode 430 may not become greater than the
threshold value in some cases. Such a situation occurs, for
example, when the hand wearing a glove is pinched. In this case,
the contact between such an object and the sensor 320 alone will
not initiate the pinch prevention operation.
Instead, the pane 102 keeps rising with the object pinched, and the
outer electrode 430 is crushed and comes into contact with the
inner electrode 440, as shown in FIG. 5. That is, the outer
electrode 430 and the inner electrode 440 form a short circuit.
Since the inner electrode 440 is a ground electrode, the contact
therewith instantly reduces (remove) the capacitance of the outer
electrode 430.
The contact detector 330 also judges that contact occurs when the
capacitance is instantly reduced (removed). The contact detection
in response to instant reduction (removal) in capacitance is based
on another threshold value. The threshold value is smaller than
that used for detecting increase in capacitance.
Based on the contact detection using these threshold values, the
pinch prevention operation is carried out under the control of the
CPU 302. In this way, even when an object having a low capacitance
is pinched, the pinch prevention operation can be reliably carried
out.
The inner electrode 440 is not necessarily be a ground electrode
but may be an electrode having a high capacitance. In this case,
the capacitance of the outer electrode 430 will become greater than
the threshold value when it comes into contact with the inner
electrode 440, allowing detection of contact with an object. When
the inner electrode 440 has a capacitance, the embedded metal 442
may be omitted.
FIGS. 6 to 15 and FIGS. 17-19 show various examples of the
configuration of the sensor 320. In the figures, portions similar
to those shown in FIG. 3 have the same reference numerals. In FIG.
6, the conductive resin that forms the inner electrode 440 extends
into the U-shaped portion of the joint member 450, and the extended
portion keeps electrical contact with the door sash 140.
In FIG. 7, a metal electrode is used as the inner electrode 440.
The use of a metal electrode significantly enhances the isoelectric
state of the entire inner electrode 440. In FIG. 8, the inner
electrode 440 is electrically connected to the door sash 140, and
one side of the outer electrode 430 is apart from the joint member
450.
In FIG. 9, the inner electrode 440 is formed of only a metal wire,
and the hemispherical outer electrode 430 surrounds the inner
electrode 440. In FIG. 10, the half-elliptical outer electrode 430
surrounds the inner electrode 440, which is a metal wire.
FIG. 11 shows an example of the inner electrode 440 having a
capacitance. The inner electrode 440 is made of a resin material
and includes no embedded metal. Further, the body of the joint
member 450 is made of a polypropylene (PP) resin, and the surface
thereof is coated with a TPO resin. The outer appearance of the
joint member 450 is thus the same as that of the joint member 450
made of a TPO resin. In FIG. 12, the joint member 450 is made of a
TPO resin, so that the surface coating is unnecessary.
FIG. 13 shows a structure in which the inner electrode 440 includes
an embedded metal and one side of the outer electrode 430 is apart
from the joint member 450. In FIG. 14, the most part of the inner
electrode 440 including an embedded metal is buried in the joint
member 450, and only a protrusion of the inner electrode 440 is
exposed. The hemispherical outer electrode 430 surrounds the
protrusion. The body of the joint member 450 is made of a PP resin
and a coating 452 made of a TPO resin is provided.
FIG. 15 shows a structure in which the metal embedded portion of
the inner electrode 440 is buried in the joint member 450 and the
other portion of the inner electrode 440 is spread over the end
surface of the joint member 450. The body of the joint member 450
is made of a PP resin, and a TPO coating is provided.
In FIG. 17, part of the inner wall of the outer electrode 430
protrudes toward the inner electrode 440. Therefore, as shown in
FIG. 18, when an object is pinched between the side of the outer
electrode 430 and the side of the pane 102, the protrusion of the
outer electrode 430 will come into contact with the inner electrode
440, so that the pinching can be detected.
In FIG. 19, the inner electrode 440 is a concentric cylindrical
structure inside the outer electrode 430 and faces the outer
electrode 430 with a gap therebetween. With such a configuration as
well, an object pinched between the side of the outer electrode 430
and the side of the pane 102 can be detected.
The operation of the present apparatus will now be described. FIG.
16 shows a flowchart of the operation of the apparatus. The
operation is carried out under the control of the CPU 302. When a
command to lift the pane is issued in the step 601, the motor is
driven to lift the pane in the step 603.
It is judged in the step 605 whether or not pinching may have
occurred. When it is detected that no pinching may occur, it is
judged in the step 607 whether or not the pane has reached the dead
point. When the pane has not reached the dead point, the process
returns to the step 603. Until it is detected that pinching may
occur or the pane has reached the dead point, the operations
described in the steps 603 to 607 are repeated. During these
operations, the pane keeps rising. When it is detected that no
pinching may occur but the pane has reached the dead point, the
process proceeds to the step 611 and waits a command of the next
action.
When it is judged in the step 605 that it is detected that pinching
may occur, the pane is stopped or moved in the reverse direction in
the step 609. The detection that pinching may occur is based on the
detection by the sensor 320 that contact with the human body or the
like has occurred, as shown in FIG. 4 or 5.
When the object that has come into contact is, for example, a bare
hand, the contact is detected as shown in FIG. 4 and the pane is
moved in the reverse direction from the state of contact. When the
object that has come into contact is, for example, the hand wearing
a glove, the contact is detected as shown in FIG. 5 and the pane is
moved in the reverse direction from the state of contact.
While the above example has been described with reference to a
power window for a vehicle, the power window is not limited
thereto, but may be any power window as long as it uses a window
regulator to drive the pane. While the above description has been
made with reference to a power window that lifts the pane to close
the window frame, the power window to be used may lower the pane to
close the window frame. Alternatively, the power window may move
the pane in the horizontal direction or in an oblique direction to
close the window frame. Further, a power window is not necessarily
used, but a power-driven sunroof, sliding door, back door, a
pivoted door, or the like may be used.
* * * * *